Karakorum Starlet returned to Aqueduct’s inner track Sunday after a failed try out of town, and turned in a courageous performance to win the 29th running of the $80,400 Broadway Handicap for New York-bred fillies and mares at six furlongs by a half-length over Wishing Wishes.

Owned by Karakorum Farm and trained by Jeff Odintz, the 5-year-old Skip Away mare was the favorite of the crowd of 3,596, and shot right out from the rail under jockey Stewart Elliott.

Although Tamberino applied pressure through an opening quarter mile of :22.79 and a half of :46.57, Karakorum Starlet shook loose from that one approaching the quarter pile. It wasn’t long, however, before Wishing Wishes and jockey Alan Garcia came along to present a fresh challenge.

Still, Karakorum Starlet stayed on after five furlongs in :58.92 on Aqueduct’s fast inner dirt track, as yet another challenge came from outside with 15-1 Scatkey and jockey Mike Luzzi.

Despite the relentless pressure, Karakorum Starlet stuck to the rail and never let herself get headed. She brought Elliott home a winner in 1:11.87. It was her eighth victory in 26 career starts and she returned $5.30.

“She tries hard and puts herself right in the race,” Elliott said. “She broke great, and she was right where she was supposed to be. It was all a question of whether she could hold them off at the end and she did. It was fun – once I got to the wire.”

Odintz hopes there is a lot more fun to come.

“She’s just a nice horse, and I am glad for Karakorum,” Odintz said. “We have a nice mare that just keeps ticking along. Just like a car, all we have to do is change the oil on her. Karakorum puts a lot of hard work into this, and this one has been our best horse so far. Hopefully, she has a lot more races in her.”

Scatkey held the show by a head over Laurentide Ice, while Waytotheleft and Tamberino trailed.

Aqueduct will be open for simulcasting only on Monday and Tuesday, March 3-4, and gates open at 11:30 a.m.

Live racing resumes on Wednesday, March 5 and first-race post reverts back to 1 p.m. There will be a Pick 6 Carryover of $265,874.13.